A shade structure installed 15 years ago at a Melbourne-based private school was recently refreshed using the same brand of shade fabric from Gale Pacific.

Located in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs, the school had commissioned local professionals Sunsoft Shade Systems about 15 years ago to install the large shade structure using Gale Pacific’s Commercial 95 shade fabric in alternating panels of navy blue and yellow.

While Victoria may be one of the cooler states in the country, summer can be quite harsh with high temperatures and dangerous UV index levels.

The Commercial 95 fabric used for the shade sails allows cooling breeze to pass through while offering 95% UV block, thereby protecting both students and staff from the harsh Australian sun when they are outdoors. The fabric is also proven to stand the test of time in extreme weather.

Covering an area of over 1,750 square metres, the impressive shade structure installed by Sunsoft Shade Systems is still considered a 'mega' installation by today’s standards. The past 15 years have certainly been taxing on the structure and membranes; however, the use of premium materials combined with superior workmanship has been responsible for the structure’s long-term performance.

"To be that size and to be in that environment for that period of time was remarkable. It's not just about the quality of the fabric; our unique construction, sewing, thread and major cable and support systems allowed the cloth to enjoy a long life," explained Sunsoft Shade Systems technical manager Andrew Hughes.

"Based on past performance and our longstanding history with the Commercial 95 fabric, it was an easy decision to use it again for the 'next generation' of superb shade coverage," he added.